It was lovely to return to school after a long weekend with girls and staff refreshed and eager to return to the busy schedule of the week! Girls in Years 10 and 11 are now well into their examinations and the very excited Year 3 girls left for camp before school this morning! I am looking forward to visiting them later today. I would like to thank those parents who undertook the survey about reports which was sent out a couple of weeks ago. As you know, it is important to us to listen to feedback about our processes and procedures and to strive to improve everything we do. Approximately 150 families responded to the survey, with slightly more than half of those having Senior School daughters only and the remainder having daughters in Junior School or in both Senior and Junior Schools.

This week, we bid our final farewell to the class of 2014. We have recognised them at formal assemblies and watched them toss their hats off the Mansion balcony and at their Valedictory service yesterday afternoon they were given a lit candle as they left the Cultural Centre which they symbolically carried out into the world, ready to shine!

We know that feedback is one of the most effective strategies when it comes to teaching and learning. Not only is it important for teachers to give feedback to the girls about how they are progressing and what they need to do to improve, but it is essential that teachers also collect feedback from their students to assess their progress. This “cycle of feedback” is central to the way we operate in classrooms at Lowther Hall, and helps to ensure that each girl is being challenged at just the right level and that every girl is learning.

It is always exciting to return to school after a term break and in Term 4 this is especially the case with the energy that Spring brings. This week started with an inspiring day in which members of the teaching staff shared their reflections on learning they have each been doing over the year – action research regarding best practice classroom teaching, informed through peer observation, data collection and extensive reflection and reading. We are fortunate at Lowther Hall to have a committed team of professional teachers who lead the way in learning for our girls.

What a privilege it was today to hear from our outstanding teachers about the action research projects they have undertaken throughout this year.

The end of term provides an opportunity to look back at all that has been accomplished during the last 9 weeks and to celebrate the many milestones that have been reached and goals that have been achieved.

What a wonderful evening we were treated to at the Melbourne Recital Centre last night! From the very first drum roll in the Percussion Ensemble, through to the final choral harmony, the night was filled with the very highest standard of musical performance, reflecting many hours of rehearsal and commitment by students and staff alike.

It is with a sense of excitement and great anticipation that we look forward to the Annual Music Concert next Wednesday evening. The girls and staff have been putting in many hours of practice to provide a very entertaining program of items for the School Community to enjoy.

This week, the Deputy Principals and I had the privilege of attending a seminar run by Carol Dweck, the author of Mindset. Having read her work and implemented some of her recommendations across the School, it was wonderful to hear her speak.